C63 AMG Black Series: Black Out Fast!

M3 owners beware, because Mercedes is gunning for the top spot among two-door coupes, and they may just have done it. Sure, the AMG C63 is a badass ride, but the sportier M3 still managed to outperform it around the track, and the folks over at Mercedes were none too happy about that. So, the AMG guys sent the C63 back to the gym and what came back for 2012 was the very powerful, very intoxicating black out fast C63 AMG Black Series.

So fast and highly tuned are the Black Series models that the C63 is only the fourth model to get the Black Series treatment. That is because the Black Series is a far cry from your average E-Class sedan. There is no coddling here, no floaty suspension to snuggle up with over long, leisurely Sunday afternoon drives. Oh, no; the Black Series is a track-bred monster. Don't think so? Well, let's put it this way: when was the last time you heard of a Mercedes offering the back seat as an option?

The car's total width has been widened (as is obvious by just looking at the car) by an inch in front and an inch and a half out back (track has been upped 1.5-inches in front and double that in the rear). Forty-four pounds of weight has been shed from the standard C63 AMG, with more than half of that coming from lighter Black Series-specific alloy wheels. The Black Series does make more of a visual splash compared to Mercedes' normal penchant for underwhelming styling, though the Black Series seems to convey more of a screaming yellow vibe with its monstrously flared fenders (housing wider 255/35ZR19 front tires and 285/30ZR19 rears), a revised front fascia, as well as vents fore and aft of both sets of wheels, a rear diffuser, and an optional wing.

Now onto the big question that every M3 owner that pulls up next to you will want to know: "What's she got?" Plenty. One blip of the throttle and this Black Series sounds more like a '69 big-block Camaro with open headers than a German racing machine. Borrowing heavily from the SLS AMG halo car, the C63 Black Series uses the 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 that has been nothing short of a beast since its inception employing a forged crankshaft, forged connecting rods and pistons. Horsepower has gone up by thirty, for a grand total of 510 ponies under that bulging, vented hood, while torque is up 24 lb.-ft. to a very muscle car-like 457 lb.-ft. All of that power is routed through a seven-speed MCT, which is superbly effective, but still leaves us wanting to row our own gears in something that sounds as classically American as this car does.

By choosing the sportiest mode of transmission options (Race Start in this case), Mercedes claims a 0-60 run of 4.0 seconds flat. No quarter mile testing has been done, but a 12.3@117 should be a reasonable expectation considering the power and weight of this AMG beast. Top speed is expected to be electronically limited to 186 mph.

Pricing has yet to be released, but an MSRP of around 70 grand should put it right in league with some of its main competition—specifically the Bavarian sort. After one blip of the throttle you'll be wondering why they didn't call this line the Red Series, because that's exactly what those pesky M3 drivers will be seeing once that light turns green.